Kolkata Durga Puja Stampede: Govt Forms SIT to Probe 19 Deaths
West Bengal govt forms a high-level SIT led by Justice (Rtd.) Anindita Roy Saraswati to probe the fatal Kolkata Durga Puja stampede.
The West Bengal government has officially constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve into the heart of the tragic Kolkata Durga Puja stampede that occurred on October 17. The horrific incident at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal claimed 19 lives and left numerous others injured, sparking a massive push for accountability and safety reforms.
High-Level Panel to Uncover Truth
Formed in consultation with the Calcutta High Court, the SIT has been mandated to conduct a comprehensive review of the circumstances that led to the chaos. The primary goal of the panel is not only to identify what went wrong but to provide concrete recommendations to ensure such a tragedy never repeats during future festivities.
According to the official government notification, the SIT is required to submit its final report to the state government within three months from the date the order was issued.
Who is Leading the Probe?
The high-level committee is chaired by Justice (Rtd.) Anindita Roy Saraswati. To ensure a multi-dimensional investigation, the panel includes several top-tier officials:
- The Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management & Civil Defence Department, Government of West Bengal.
- The Director General and Inspector General of Police for the Special Task Force (STF), West Bengal.
- A representative from the Director General and Inspector General of Police (holding a rank no lower than Additional Director General).
- A representative from the Home and Hill Affairs Department (holding a rank no lower than Joint Secretary).
- A representative from the Kolkata-based National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Fire Department Puts South Kolkata Pandals on Alert
In the wake of the disaster, the Kolkata Fire Department has moved swiftly to prevent further mishaps. Five prominent Durga Puja pandals in South Kolkata have been placed under special scrutiny. Written instructions have been issued to the committees of Chetla, Tridhara, Deshapriya Park, and Tollygunge Cultural.
These committees have been strictly directed to:
- Pay special attention to the management of entry and exit routes to avoid congestion.
- Implement additional fire safety measures to safeguard the thousands of devotees visiting the venues.
Compensation and Accountability
The West Bengal government has announced a significant relief package for the bereaved families. Each victim's family will receive Rs 25 lakh in compensation along with a government job.
Parallel to the SIT, the Special Task Force (STF) has already launched an investigation to fix accountability for the lapses that led to the stampede. The situation is being closely monitored at the highest levels of government, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), and the Commissioner of Police (CP) overseeing the developments.